The inactivated herpes zoster vaccine HZ/su induces a varicella zoster virus specific cellular and humoral immune response in patients on dialysis.

Background: To evaluate the immunogenicity of the inactivated herpes-zoster vaccine HZ/su in patients at increased risk for VZV-reactivation, we analysed the quantity and quality of the vaccine-induced cellular and humoral immunity in patients on dialysis with uremic immunodeficiency.

Methods: In this observational study, 29 patients and 39 immunocompetent controls underwent standard dual-dose vaccination. Blood samples were analysed before and two weeks after each vaccination, and after one year.

Erysense, a Lab-on-a-Chip-Based Point-of-Care Device to Evaluate Red Blood Cell Flow Properties With Multiple Clinical Applications.

In many medical disciplines, red blood cells are discovered to be biomarkers since they "experience" various conditions in basically all organs of the body. Classical examples are diabetes and hypercholesterolemia. However, recently the red blood cell distribution width (RDW), is often referred to, as an unspecific parameter/marker (e.

Donor-specific alloreactive T cells can be quantified from whole blood, and may predict cellular rejection after renal transplantation.

Preformed cellular alloreactivity can exist prior to transplantation and may contribute to rejection. Here, we used a rapid flow-cytometric whole-blood assay to characterize the extent of alloreactive T cells among 1491 stimulatory reactions from 61 renal transplant candidates and 75 controls. The role of preformed donor-specific alloreactive T cells in cellular rejection was prospectively analyzed in 21 renal transplant recipients.

Calcineurin inhibitors differentially alter the circadian rhythm of T-cell functionality in transplant recipients.

Background: Graft survival in transplant recipients depends on pharmacokinetics and on individual susceptibility towards immunosuppressive drugs. Nevertheless, pharmacodynamic changes in T-cell functionality in response to drugs and in relation to pharmacokinetics are poorly characterized. We therefore investigated the immunosuppressive effect of calcineurin inhibitors and steroids on general T-cell functionality after polyclonal stimulation of whole blood samples.

T-cell numbers and antigen-specific T-cell function follow different circadian rhythms.

Purpose: Circadian rhythms play an important role in modulating cellular immune responses. The present study was performed to characterise circadian variations in lymphocyte numbers and antigen-specific T-cell functionality in healthy individuals under physiological conditions.

Methods: Blood leukocyte populations of six healthy volunteers were quantified over 24 h.

Cholesterol synthesis, cholesterol absorption, and mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Background And Objectives: Recent clinical trials on cholesterol-lowering in patients with CKD yielded conflicting results, which might have resulted from different treatment strategies. Serum cholesterol levels are determined by endogenous synthesis and intestinal absorption, which are differentially influenced by various classes of cholesterol-lowering agents. Assessing markers of cholesterol metabolism has thus been proposed for guidance of lipid-lowering therapy.

Rapid identification of preformed alloreactive T cells for use in a clinical setting.

Background: In clinical practice, HLA matching is generally applied to minimize the incidence of graft rejection after transplantation. Recently, graft rejection has been directly associated with the presence of preformed alloreactive T cells before transplantation. Despite this knowledge, assays to rapidly quantify preformed alloreactivity are not available for use in a clinical setting.